Arrest in mom's 2015 murder in Port Richmond; 2-year-old was next to her

PORT RICHMOND (WPVI) -- Authorities have made an arrest in the 2015 murder of a 22-year-old woman who police say was shot as her 2-year-old daughter looked on.

Twenty-eight-year-old James Jones is charged with criminal homicide, burglary, robbery and a list of related offenses.

Police say he shot Stephanie Dzikowski back in July of 2015.

Her body was discovered in a home on the 3000 block of Aramingo Avenue.

Her child was in the room with her.

"It's a little weight off our shoulders, cause the man's not walking around, but it don't change nothing. She's not here, it won't bring her back," said Sean Sadowniczak, victim's boyfriend.

"A little bit of relief. it gives a lot of people closure," said Marie Larkins, family friend.

Relief and some anger. Jones had attended various community events to mourn and remember Stephanie.

"He came to the rallies, he shook people's hands, he gave condolences, he went to the funeral," said Larkins.

James Jones was socially known to the victim. Jones' girlfriend was Stephanie's friend, says Stephanie's boyfriend Sean Sadowniczak, who reacted to Friday's news.

"I never expected it, I did not. I don't know him per se, but I know his girlfriend," said Sadowniczak.

That Jones had previously been in the family house might answer a question asked the night of the murder: Why didn't the family pit bull confront the killer.

"It had to be somebody she knew, it had to be, because the dog would not let a stranger into that house, we all knew that," said Stacy Przepioski, neighbor.

Stephanie Dzikowski is remembered as a hardworking, loving mother. She continues to be missed.

Police are not saying much about what might have motivated the crime.

They say a combination of tips and surveillance video collected during the investigation led to Jones' arrest, who was already jailed on an unrelated offense when detectives made the link.